2021 Nightshade Headlights

Hello, I recently upgraded my stock Led headlights to the morimoto XB gen 2 headlights mainly because the stock DRL was halogen and any led bulb I tried to replace it with simply wouldn’t work. I learned later it had something to do with the computer regulating the amount of out put to the DRLs, which only allowed the halogens to work. After a lot of convincing myself, I decided to buy the expensive headlights and do the install. Although I had to wait for a converter because the limited and TRD models in the 2021 have a different wire connector they finally came out with one and I ordered the lights. Everything fir perfectly, and I love the way they look. Especially the sequential turn signals, they give it such a modern look. The only thing is though that my highbeams don’t work now. I noticed in the converter I received, it has two wires going to the 4 pin adapter, but the wires coming from my vehicle have 3 connected to the adapter. I’m assuming one of the wires that’s not there is supposed to control the high beams. I tried every connector in every possible combination, blew a fuse while doing so, and still no highbeams. If anyone knows about this, please let me know what it could be? I’ll attach some pictures of before and after as well. Also if anyone’s interested in buying OEM 2021 headlights that come standard with LEDs, please let me know as I have them up for sale. They are in absolutely flawless condition with less than 1000 miles driven with them on. Thanks!

 

PM sent about headlights!

 

Your high beams do not work because the factory bi-LED projectors are controlling a mechanical shutter for the high beams rather than igniting a bulb. That is, the factory projector is fully lit but there is a shutter that provides a cutoff for when you're using low beams only.

The Morimoto headlights are designed to replace the single LED projectors and older halogen units only, because their high beams are separate lamps (and circuits controlling them). They are not compatible with the new Pro and Limited trucks, as they have completely different circuitry controlling the DRLs and high beams.

There are many examples of the aftermarket headlights working on the other trims, and also retrofitting the single LED factory lights to older trucks. But so far I have not seen a successful implementation on the Pro/Limited trucks. You'll need some custom wiring and controls for them to work correctly.

 

I was able to find a 30W LED bulb that worked in the drl slot. But the light isn’t very bright. I bet because the DRL automatically reduces power. It’s subtle, but it works.

Other LEDs I’ve tried do not work.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/LED-30W-90...ht-DRL-Daytime-Replacement-Lamp-/163244129530

 

@mynameistory. Took me about a week for figure it out, even with the adapter harness provided from morimoto they weren’t working and I was torn because I didn’t want to do any wiring additives. However, I changed my high beam fuse from a 25 to a 10 and it works just like factory. So if anyone has a trd pro or limited 2021, it’s as simple as changing that fuse and you’re set.

 

You were blowing a 25 amp fuse before, and now you've switched to a 10 amp fuse and it's fine? Something isn't adding up here.

 

That’s literally all I did, and it works like a charm.

 

Yes but that's not how electricity works. What else did you do?

 

Seriously, I did nothing else.

 

Are these still working perfectly?

 

absolutely nothing wrong with them, not a scratch. In perfect working condition.

 

So you are still running the XB's? DO you like the overall output of them?

 

Yes I am, and the output is great, in fact I have people highbeam me regularly because they think I have my highbeams on.

 

That's... not a compliment. You either have them aimed incorrectly, or the optics are very poorly controlled by the manufacturer.

 

Yep that’s correct. I have the Mori XBs too. I spent some time adjusting them properly and I never get flashed..well at least not how I’d like to be

 

Apologies in advance. Recently had Slee in Colorado do a 2.5 lift on my 21 limited along with putting in squadrons to replace my fogs, now my headlights seem pathetic. I like the Morimotos but doesn’t sound like plug and play? Considering my lift-Do I need to adjust my factory headlights down? The Squadrons really light up the road in front of me but now it seems like the headlights are weak further out..i would like brighter and more white light,a super model girlfriend , to win the lottery and a few other things. Any advice? Especially on the super model thing.

 

Your headlights aren't designed to blind other drivers, that's probably why they are overwhelmed by off-road lights. I'd recommend removing the squadrons and putting in a better performing, street legal fog light.

 

Thanks- I’m not looking to blind other drivers, I had the squadrons angled down a bit when installed- I don’t get flashed, at least haven’t in the 2k since install. Just looking for something that is a bit more white to blend better and be a bit brighter. Other than daily day driving I do some distance driving at night and was hoping there was an enhancement.
Thanks-

 

So, headlights aren't really designed to light up the foreground in front of your truck. They're meant to project light far into the distance with a concentrated beam pattern (called a hotspot) and provide gentle fill illumination below that. Pull up to a wall with your headlights on to see what I mean. If the headlight pattern was bright everywhere, the street immediately in front of your truck would be overwhelmingly bright, constricting your vision to about twenty feet in front of you (not ideal for driving). You have OEM LED headlights that perform twice as well as the previous halogen equipped trucks, and people manage to get down the road with those just fine.

As for the squadrons, there are only a few varieties to get. There's the SAE fog pattern light (which is street legal but very poor performing, as they are dimmer than the factory halogen or LED fog lights). They have glare shields and look like this:

Then there's the sport/pro/racer versions. They're off-road only lights and they look like this:

There isn't really a way to "aim these down", as they don't have a pattern cutoff the way a proper fog light does. This is what a fog pattern looks like:

And this is what the Baja squadron looks like:

Not ideal for street use, as you're glaring everyone's face off in opposing traffic.

Check out this thread for more info about fog lights and their use cases. The links at the top of the thread are the current list of best recommended products:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-led-sae-j583-fog-pod-fog-light-review.554813/

 

Great info.this is why i joined.will check the links. What is the purpose of the Morimotos? Why do people buy them? I came from a stock 2018 Audi SQ5 that had way better coverage than the 4R with or without the new fogs. I am looking for function above all else and dont use the fogs around town.Being new to all this my mindset is more projectors would be better? Are there better LED’s that would do it? Anyway, as you can probably tell by my questions-its all new to me.

 

Same guy ran a test on the newer 4Runner LED headlights (low beam, in your case you have low and high beam LED. The high beams activate a shutter to reveal the full projector in your headlights).

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...ctor-headlights.589465/page-252#post-26224347

He notes that the Morimoto unit is likely very similar to the Tacoma version that he has tested, so you can see the lux comparison for yourself. Note that the Morimoto units use a higher color temperature (blueish rather than flat white), and they lack proper uplight pattern above the cutoff (a small amount of light is allowed to leak above the cutoff, helping to illuminate street signs). Lastly, be aware that Morimoto does not make their own headlights, they are rebranded units from a company in China called VLAND. I would say that the quality is ... hit or miss. OEM lights will have better consistency and reliability from one set to the next.

 

Thanks! I’m sticking with what I have. Appreciate the insights.

 

I understand the frustration, especially coming from other vehicles with headlights from this century. The 5th gen 4Runner was introduced in 2009 and has had minimal updates. Even the newer LED headlights are probably a compromise, because they had to fit them in existing sheetmetal.

 

Yep.Nothing is perfect..

 

But it’s fun making it as good as possible!

 

That’s the best part for me.

 

i can agree with this. I came from a Tacoma with the LED’s and it is crazy the difference. I’m not complaining because I’ve owned a ton of older cars with much worse lighting, but the Tacoma LED’s were far superior to what LED set up they have in the 4 runner.

 

Yep, they must have had two different engineering teams for the headlights. No idea why they would put kick-ass LED reflectors in the Tacoma


and a single wimpy LED projector in the 4Runner.


https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...ctor-headlights.589465/page-182#post-24546907

Speaking of which, these popped up in my eBay search for OEM LED replacements. Don't think I'm going to gamble though.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Pair-LED-R...r-2014-2021-Toyota-4Runner-4-0L-/403325141925

 

those do look… interesting…